Stop applying machine for slide fasteners



Oct. 19, 1937. F. s. 056000 STOP APELYING MACHINE FOR S LIDE FASTENERS '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 5,. 1934 w 3 f 1 L a 6 a w 2. 6 a a 0 0 m a a ,M w 1 M4 x l INVENYTOR. G1 Osgood ORNEYS.

Oct. 19, 1937. F. 6. 0.56000 2,095,685

STOP APPLY JING MACHINE FOR SLIDE FASTENERS I Original Filed Oct. 5, 1934 7 sneaks-sheet 2 IN V EN-TOR.

rm'w a 059004 Oct. 19, 1937. G, 5 60 0 2,096,685

STOP APPLYING MACHINE FOR SLiDE FASTENERS Original Filed Oct. 5, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 IVNVENTOAR. I'hznh G. Osgood T RNEYS.

u i; I f: 417

Oct. 19, 1937. F. e. oseooo 2,096,535,

I STOP APPLYING MACHINE FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Original Filed Oct. 5, 1934' 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR, -Iranh' G1 Osgood A EYS.

Oct. 19, 1937. F. e. oseooo I I 2,096,685

STOP AfPLYING MACHINE FOR SLIDE? FASTENERS Original Filed Oqt. 5, 1934 TSheets-Sheet 5 A IIIIlI/bz lllll/ IN V EN TOR.

35mm 6:. Osgood A RNEYS.

0a. 19, 1931. G, QSGOQD 2,096,685.

STOP APPLYING MACHINE FOR suns msmrmas Original Filed Oct}. 5s 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet e IN VEN TOR.

m/ Irarzh G1 0890001 75 By L XJZ W.

2'6 RNEYS.

Oct. 19, 1937 I OSGQQD 2,096,685

STOP APPLYING MACHINE FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Original Filed Qqt. 5, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet v IN V EN TOR.

1 7117212 Gfias'ood BY I I RNEY.

l Patented Oct. 19,1937

STOP APPLYING MACHINE TENEBS FAS son suns Frank mesavme; r... assignor to Hookless Fastener Penns lvania Application October s, 1934, Serial n 1141,!

I Renewed 10, 1987 Chimp.

' attached to the tape by automatic machines in spaced apart groups. In order-to complete the fastener it is necessary to connect two of the groups together, apply a bottom stop accurately in position at the bottom end of the groups, which also serves as a permanent connection between the two stringers, place a slider on the stringers, and then to apply top stops one on each stringer. In former methods of manufacture it was necessary to cut the stringers apart before applying the 2 bottom stops and the stops were applied by a machine which required the hand feeding of the bottom stops to a fixture, the hand placing of the fastener stringers in the fixture in order that the tapes might be guided accurately into the proper position with relation to the bottom stop.

The problems involved .are peculiar and no existing automatic machines which are known would be satisfactory for the bottom stop attaching operation. At the outset there is the problem of attaching a very small member of metal accurately in position on two fabric members. It is first necessary to locate thetapes' accurately because the bottom stop must be applied in a definite position adjacent the bottom ends of the 85 rows of fastener elements. The two tapes between groups of members must be spread apart sumcientiy to allow the bottom stop to enter between them, then the bottom stop must be moved up to a; position close to the ends of the rows of fastener members and then the tapes must be positioned between the jaws of the bottom stop member.

A further problem is to provide a machine which will accommodate various lengths of fasteners because in the manufacture of slide fasteners the lengths vary from two inches up by intervals of one eighth of an inch. Furthermore, the machine must be made substantially safe and fool-proof inoperation in order to avoid dam- 0 age to the fastener stringers which are relatively of considerable value at thetime they reach the bottom stop attaching machine.

The machine comprises mechanism for arranging the stop i'automaticaily, feeding them con- 66 tinuously, carrying them to clamping position,

Company, a corporation of (on. lac-1) feeding the tape and controlling its position accurately for the operation of clamping on'the. bottom stops. It further involves the use of electrical controls, so as to prevent'operation of the machine until both the tape and bottom stop are l in accurate position ready for the clamping operation.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration, one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice. In 1 these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section;

Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectional view of the chute;

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the tape holding mechanism;

Fig. '5 is avertical section showing the parts in different position from that, of Fig. 2 .with the barrier cut away; a

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the bottoms'to'p assorting mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the machine on line 1-1 of Fig. 1 I

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of a portion of the as mechanism on line 8-8 of Fig. 14 showing upper plate in open position;

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail and sectional views respectively of the clutch;

I Fig. 11 is a cross-section of the bottom stop & carrier on line ll-Il of Fig. 12;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the bottom stop in the process of being carried between the tapes;

Fig. 13 is a schematic view showing the prin-' It clpal working parts;

Fig. 14 is a cross-section on line ll-ll of Fig. 1; Fig. 15 is a wiring diagram for the electrical apparatus; I

Fig. 16' is a cross-section on line ll-llof Fig. 40 7, showing the clutch operating mechanism; and Fig. 17 is a cross-section on line 11-" of Fig.

8, showing the upper plate in closed position.

The present machine is adapted for feeding the bottom stop members of a type commonly used I in commercial production but it will be understood that various other kinds of stop members may be manufactured withv certain changes in I the machine to adapt the tools to the particular form of stop. The present stop member 2| as 5. shown in Figs. 3 and 8 comprises a pair of parallel gripping Jaws I9 united by a narrow yoke 21. The gripping jaws are suflicientiy wide to embrace the corded edges of the two connected stringers and combine them firmly together. The I The Jet is so directed that the bottom stop members are blown. against the edge of the blade 24 which is sufficiently thin to allow the sides of the bottom stop member to pass over the blade and slide along the edge of the blade as shown in Fig. 6. The blade is inclined so that the bottom stop members slide by gravity downwardly toward the machine. During their passage along the blade they are held in position by suitable retaining members 25 and 29.

Referring now toFigs. 2 and 14 the bottom stop members come to the end of the chute into 15 the passageway 21 of the casting 28. When the bottom stop carrier 29 is in position to receive a stop member, the end member on the pack passes into the recess 30 of the bottom stop carrier against an electrical stop contact, the function of which will be described later herein.

The bottom stop carrier 29 has the general form of a triangular bracket mounted for free swinging movement about the shaft 32. At the time it receives a bottom stop as shown in Figs.

2 and 14 the bottom stop carrier is bearing.

against the adjustable stop pin 33 mounted in the stationary bracket 34. An oscillating movement is imparted to the shaft 32 which has a lost motion connection with the bottom stop carrier through the-cam 35 keyed to the shaft 32 and the adjustable pin 36 attached to the swinging carrier. When the shaft 32 swings in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 13, the shoulder 31 on the cam 35 will 35 engage the pin 38 and lift the swinging carrier into the position shown in Fig. 2. When the shaft 32 swings in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, it carries with it the crank 38 keyed to the shaft 32 to the end of which is at- 40 tached a coil spring 39 which is connected to the swinging. carrier at 40. The clockwise rotation of the shaft 29 will thus tighten the spring 39 and cause the swinging carrier to swing to its downward position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 13.

5 The downward swinging movement is arrested by the inclined stop surfaces 4|, 42 on the swinging carrier and machine bed, respectively.

During the downward swinging movement, the

bottom stop 20 is held in the recess 30 by the 50 relatively stationary shoulder 43 and by the shoulder on the movable member 44 which is pivoted to the swinging arm at 45. This swinging bottom stop holder is held in holding position normally by the coil spring 45, which bears 55 against the arm 41 as seen in Fig. 5. Carried by the clamping member 51 is a roller 55 which follows the stationary cam plate l8 during the downward swinging movement of the'can'ier (see Figs. 5 and 7), causing the clamping tool 59 to Q0 clamp down on the-bottom stop just enough to keep it from being displaced in the recess.

It will be noted in Fig. 12, that the front end and corner of the swinging member 44 are tapered as shown at 48 so that it enters between 5 and wedges apart the slide fastener tapes 49,

59. This wedging movement is essential in order that the bottom stop 20 may pass between the tapes. When the carrier has swung far enough to bring the bottom stop adjacent the 70 group of fastener elements 5|, the tapes 49, 59

will snap back into the grooves 52-,53 so that the corded edges of the tapes may pass between the clamping jaws of the bottom stop. During the final operation of the swinging movement,

75 it will be noted in Fig. 5, thatthe swinging holder 44 has been swung downwardly by the action of the stationary cam 54 working against the under side of the swinging holder. The parts are plunger 58 normally hold the clamping member in retracted position until it is operated upon by the cain 35. The clamping tool 59 attached to.

the end of the clamping member, bears directly against the bottom stop and presses it firmly against the slide fastener tapes, the opposite side of the bottom stop member meanwhile being held stationary by the bottom surface of the recess 30 in the swinging carrier.

After the clamping operation, the shaft 32 will swing in a counter-clockwise direction releasing the clamping member 51 and returning the bot-.

tom stop carrier to its original position against the stop 33.

The fastener strips 49, 50 with their attached fastener elements 5| are interlocked together in proper orderso that each group of fastener elements will make a complete fastener. There are blank lengths of tape between groups of fastener elements called gap spaces where the groups of fasteners can be cut apart leaving tape ends which can be folded over in attaching the fastener in the article. If any of the fastener elements' have become accidentally disengaged, suitable cam means may be provided for reengaging them consisting of two halves 53, SI of a conventional slider used for closing the fastener, except that the neck or wedge part of the slider is omitted. The lower half 60 is attached to the bed plate 52 of the machine, as seen in Figs. 2 and 8, whereas the upper half is attached to the movable upper guide plate 63 by means of the bracket 64. The fastener strips are fed between the bed plate 62 and the upper guide plate where the bottom stop is clamped on the tapes but the guideway in the bed plate of the machine continues to a pair of feed rollers 61, 53, between which the fastener tapes pass, such rollers being provided with central grooves 69, 10, respectively, for the rows of fastener elements. The feed rollers may be made of any suitable material such as rubber or metal, and are preferably adjustable relative to one another so that they can grip the fastener strips with the desired degree of friction. The adjustment between the rollers is such that the feed of the fastener strips may be stopped at will while the movement of the feed rollers continues, but at the same time, as soon as the stop is removed, the feed rollers will pick up the tape and move it forward again.

Means is provided for stopping the move: ment of the fastener strips accurately-at, the

, amass proper point for attachment of a bottom stop,

and for holding such fastener strips in position while the bottom stop is being attached. 2hr

stopping the fastener strip feed a vertically movable stop finger II is slidably mounted in a swinging bracket 12 pivoted to the stationary tapes and as the strip feed continues and the I fastener elements strike against the stop finger,

while in the position shown in Fig. 2, the pressure thus exerted against the stop finger will swing the bracket 12 until the stop arm I16 strikes against the stationary adjustable stop pin IT. The swinging bracket is normally held in position as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, by the coil spring I8 acting on the arm I9 attached to the bracket.

At the proper time when the bottom stop carrier has brought a bottom stop member to a point adjacent the clamping station, the stop pin is withdrawn by means of the cam groove at in which is engaged the cam follower hi attached to the stop pin. The operation of the canted will be more fully described hereafter.

At the time of withdrawal of the stop pin and until the bottom stop is firmly clamped in position, means are required for holding the tape stationary against the pull of the feed rollers. This is accomplished by a shoe d2 movable through an opening in the upper guide plate and in position to bear against the fastener elements. The shoe 82 is carried on the end of an arm 83 pivoted at 84 to the block 88. A compression spring 85 normally holds the shoe away from the fastener elements so that it exerts no pressure. A cam 85 on a shaft 81 pivoted in theguide plate operates the lever arm 83 and presses the shoe thereto a crank 89 at one end which carries acam roller 90 actuated by the plate cam 9i attached on'the end of the shaft 81, (see Figs. 1 and 7). The return movement of the cam 88 i is accomplished by a coil spring 82 attached to an arm I93.

Attention is directed now to Figs. 8 and '17 showing the manner of moving the corded edges of the fastener tapes into the spaces between the plates of the bottom stop and holding them there firmly while the stop is being clamped on the corded edges. This is accomplished by spring fingers 93 on the bed plate of the machine adjustably held by screws and elongated slots as illustrated. These fingers are normally pressed inwardly by springs 84. A pair of fingers 8! on the upper guide plate 68 have a similar function and are pivoted on the screws 80 and pressed inwardly by springs 91. These fingers thus act in the manner illustrated directly against the corded edges to press them inwardly toward each other when the bottom stop is in proper position.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 7. the machine is driven from a motor IIII through abelt IIII pulley I02, on the main drive shaft I88. A small pulley I It on the drive shaft operates the iced rollers through a belt I85 and pulley I". The drive shaft carries on its other enda flywheel I01 which may also be used for the hand adjustment of the machine.v The mainshaft is mounted in suitable bearings Ill, I08 in the frame of the machine. Keyed to the ,central part of the shaft Adjacent the driving member the shaft carries a bearing sleeve III, on which the driven member II! of the clutch assemblyls rotatably mounted. Engagement between the driving and driven members is accomplished by asliding key III is the driving member I I8 of the clutch assembly.

which slides in a suitable guideway in the driven clutch collar III. The end of the key engages 15 in relatively wide notches IIl between thelugs II! of the driving member. (See Fig. 10.) The clutch key is normally pressed toward engaging position by a coil spring IIS acting through the pin Ill against the collar 8, which is securely fastened to the driven clutch collar II2 by suitable screws Ill. An eccentric lid is rigidly at- I tached to the driven clutch collar H2 and is surrounded by an eccentric strap I2I to whiclra link I22 is attached. The link I22 connects to 25 the shaft 32 through a crank I28 (see Figs. 5 and 7). The cam plate I26 which carries the cam groove 80 is mounted'on the collar II 8 at the left end of the driving shaft, as seen in Fig. 7, and is adjustable relative to the collar by reason of the construction shown in Fig. 5. The cam plate I24 is split at H25 and when loosened on the collar,- it can be adjusted by moving the adjusting screws 526, which hear against the key E21.

Referring now to Figs. .9 and 16, the clutch' key is controlled by the clutch operating member I28 which is attached to the vertically movable block I29 and normally held in the downward position by a coil spring I30 attached to an upstanding arm III of the block I28, and having its stationary end I32 attached to the stationary member I33.

Assuming that the clutch operating member I28 is held upwardly in position to disengage the clutch. the clutch key us will strike the beveled face 684 of the clutch operating member, and will be pulled toward the left against the compression of spring H6, thus disengaging the key from the driving member of the clutch.

The cams are so designed that the clamping on of the bottom stop will be completed at about the time the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 16.

It is then desired to return the bottom stop carrier immediately to its initial position in order that it may quickly pick up a bottom stop. This is accomplished faster than the ordinary operation of the machine by means of a 'coil spring I36 attached at I35 to the eccentric strap. This spring has sufiicient strength to pull the eccentric strap and its connected parts through the shaft 32 ahead of the clutch operating key, so that the clutch key by reason of its beveled end construction, will ratchet over the clutch lugs H5, This to drive the parts positively.

The electrical clutch control mechanism will it in as now be described. The clutch operating solenoid I81 has its armature connected to a lever I88 pivoted at I39 and terminating in a rounded end I", which .bears on .the under face of the clutch operating member I29. When the solenoid is energized the clutch is disengaged so that in order'to engage the clutch and start the machine, the

solenoid must be completely de-energized. The

solenoid I31 is normally energized from the main line source of power through the switch I, but the solenoid circuit will be interrupted by the relay switch I42 or the relay switch I43, which is in parallel relation with I42. Thus if either of the contact switch I46 is controlled by the bottom stop striking the contact post I49 (see Fig. 14). This serves to complete the circuit through the ground or by way of the frame of the machine to energize the solenoid I42 and open the relay. The other relay is controlled by the stop finger which interrupts the tape movement. The positive wire is connected to the stop post 11 so that when the arm I8 is swung into contact with it, the circuit will be grounded and the relay switch I43 energized and opened. In this manner the clutch operating solenoid can not be de-energized until a bottom stop is in position in the bottom stop carrier and until the fastener strips are in position to receive the bottom stop.

1 The operation of the machine will be readily I understood in view of the above description and may be briefly summarized as follows.

The bottom stops are fed in orderly arrangetape control relay will be opened thereby de-energizing the clutch operating solenoid. The shaft 32 thereupon moves in a clockwise direction thereby tightening the spring attached to the bottom stop carrier. This will swing the bottom stop carrier to its downward position carrying the stop member between the tapes. The stop member holding finger 44 will swing out of the way, the stop finger 1| will pull downwardly out of the way, and the tape control fingers will press the corded edges of the tape between the plates of the bottom stop member. The clamping tool will then operate to clamp the bottom stop in position and shortly thereafter the bottom stop carrier may be returned with a snap action to its original position, and the clutch will be disengaged as soon as the clutch key strikes the clutch operating memher. It will be observed that the return movement of the stop finger and the breaking of the bottom stop contact have caused the-solenoid I31 to be energized, thereby engaging the clutch operating member with the clutch key causing the clutch What I claim as my invention is:

l; A machine of the class described comprising a guideway, means for supplying a fastener strip consisting of two parallel tapes having attached thereto spaced groups of fastener elements, each group of fastener elements on one tape being interlocked with a corresponding group on the opposite tape, means for supplying bottom stop members, means for relatively positioning said strip and bottom stop members so that said bottom stop members arrive successively in position at the end of a group of fastener elements, and clamping means for attaching said bottom stop members to said tapes in said positions.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a guideway, means for feeding a continuous fastener strip which consists of groups of fastener elements attached to a flat tape, a stop member projecting into said guideway for engaging said groups of elements to locate the strip in position for an end member, means for supplying end members for said fastener strip, means for holding said strip in position during attachment of said end members while said stop member is removed, and means for attaching said end members to the strip adjacent the end of each of saidbottom stops into position adjacent the end of a group of fastener elements, and means for clamping said bottom stop in said position.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said bottom stop clamping, means includes a tool mounted on said movable stop carrier and movable relative thereto.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a guideway for a fastener strip which consists of a group of fastener elements attached to a flexible tape carrier, means for positioning said fastener strip, means for supplying stop members to a stop carrier, a stop carrier for transferring said stop members to clamping position, and means controlling the movement of said carrier to prevent its moving to clamping position until a bottom stop has been properly positioned therein.

6. A machine of the class described comprising a guideway for a fastener strip which consists of a group of fastener elements attached to a flexible tape carrier, means for positioning said fastener strip, means for supplying stop members to a stop carrier, a stop carrier for transferring said stop members to clamping position, and means controlling the movement of said carrier to prevent its moving to clamping position until said fastener strip has been positioned to receive a stop member.

7. A machine of the class described comprising a guideway for a fastener strip which consists of a group of fastener elements attached to a flexible tape carrier, means for positioning said fastener strip, means for supplying stop members to a stop carrier, a stop carrier for transferring said stop members to clamping position, and means controlling the movement of said carrier to prevent its moving to clamping position until said fastener strip has been positioned to receive a fastener member and until a bottom stop is in proper position onsaid carrier.

8. A machine of the class described comprising a guideway, means for supplying a continuous fastener strip to said guideway, said fastener strip consisting of spaced groups of fastener elements attached to parallel tapes, each group of fastener elements on one tape being interlocked with a corresponding group on the opposite tape, means for supplying bottom stops 0! the form having parallel plates united by a narrow yoke, means for bringing a bottom stop into position between said tapes at the end of each group of fastener elements successively, means for holding the tape 'edges between thevopposed plates of the bottom stop member, and means for clamping the plates together to bind said bottom stop member on said tapes.

9. A machine of the class described comprising means for feeding a fastener stripof a type which consists of a group of fastener elements attached to a flexible tape carrier, means for interrupting the feed of said strip at the proper position for attachment of an end stop member, means for supplying stop members including a movable stop carrier, driving means for effecting movement of said stop carrier, and electrical means for controlling the movement of said stop carrier to prevent its movement until said strip is in position and until a bottom stop is positioned in said carrier.

10. The machine combination defined in claim 9 wherein said electrical means includes a solenoid for controlling the driving means for said stop carrier, and relay switches controlled by the position of a bottom stop in said carrier and by the position of said fastener strip for controlling the energization of said solenoid.

11. A machine of the class described compris-" ing means for supplying a fastener strip of the type consisting of a group ,of fastener elements attached to a flexible tape carrier, means for supplying end stop members to theend of'the group of fastener elements for attachment thereto comprising a bottom stop carrier, means for imparting an intermittent movement to said bottom stop carrier from a position where it receives a stop member to the clamping position and return, ineluding a, spring for eifecting a quick return of said stop carrier to the point where it receives the bottom stop. I

12. A machine of the class described comprising means for supplying a continuous fastener strip consisting of two parallel tapes having attached thereto spaced groups of fastener elements, each group of fastener elements on one tape being interlocked with a corresponding group on the opposite tape, means for supplying end members, means controlled by the strip for pcsitioning said end members at the end of each group of fastener elements, and clamping means strip consisting of two parallel tapes having at- 1 tached thereto spaced groups of fastener elements, means for supplying end members, means controlled by one end of each of said groups of fastener elements for positioning said end members at the end of each group of fastener elements, and clamping means for attaching said end members to said tapes in said position.

FRANK G. OSQOOD, 

